Aftertaste Page #27

Season #1 Episode #1

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ZEEK:

What?

After MELODY RAE locates the group picture of her and her theatre classmates taken in 1984, on the Fourth of July at Rubino’s sandwich shop, she sets the album on Zeek’s lap, and with her index finger points to herself in the photograph.

MELODY RAE:

That was me.

ZEEK:

What?

MELODY RAE nods

ZEEK:

Are you kidding me? What? No way!

Zeek rubs his chin, looks at her and then back at the photo, holds it closer to his face and then shakes his head.

ZEEK:

I’ve never been a huge believer in signs,

but I’m starting to think this is one.

(beat)

Well, it’s not the only other time we’ve

crossed paths? I seem to recall a comely

young lady wearing a cashier name tag at

a midnight showing of The Rocky Horror

Picture Show, whose physical beauty

actually caused me to spill my popcorn

and soda. Ring a bell?

MELODY RAE winces and raises an eyebrow.

ZEEK:

I also remember a lovely young thing

sitting at a front row table in a

comedy club breaking my concentration,

causing me to spill my drink all over

my buddy. Sound familiar?

MELODY RAE bites her right thumb and shrinks farther into the couch.

ZEEK:

Oh, I also seem to remember a gorgeous

lady that I spotted across the parlor of

North Beach Pizza in the city, who caused

me to stumble over my wife’s jacket and

spill her glass.

MELODY RAE now has both legs nestled to her chest with a

pillow held close to her left side as a barrier.

ZEEK:

Of course, I can’t forget camping up at

Green Valley and seeing a beautiful young

lady on a bridge, who took me so

completely off guard that I spilled my

hot coffee all over my son.

MELODY RAE lets out an awkward aching laugh.

ZEEK:

Oh, and of course, I remember a vivacious

young lady at the Red Bluff rodeo, who

startled me into dropping my drink cup,

which then spilled all over my friends

playing cards. Uh-huh, yeah, that made

me real popular. And I can’t forget the

time that I drove my brother, Luca, to pick

up his dog at Petite Paws, the day before

Thanksgiving, only to be seduced by a

gorgeous dog groomer, peeking her head out

the window, causing me to knock over my hot

cup of coffee into my lap.

(laughs)

Do you realize that every single time I’ve

seen you over the years, I’ve spilt my

drink? Don’t you think that says something?

MELODY RAE:

Yeah. . . you have a drinking problem.

ZEEK:

No. I don’t have a drinking problem, I

have a Melody Rae problem. And she is the

only elixir I need. I’m sorry it took me

this long to figure out that I was being

sent a sign, and that you were my destiny.

ZEEK holds MELODY RAE close and kisses her longingly, seductively and passionately with a burning intensity until vibrating through the speakers the song “I Can See

Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash come streaming through. They both stop kissing.

ZEEK:

Things are finally clear.

MELODY RAE:

It’s no longer raining. . .this is our

song.

ZEEK lifts her off the couch and twirls her around

guiding her body down into a full embrace. And once the

song ends, they could hear the faint sounds of firecrackers

bursting outside in the distance.

ZEEK:

Let’s go!

ZEEK grabs her hand and pulls her out to the patio. Both dogs follow us outside to where Mimi, Giacomo and Derek

are sprawled out on lawn chairs and covered in blankets on the opposite side of the pool. MELODY RAE runs back inside to snag a couple more throw blankets and some bottled waters, while Zeek obtains a corkscrew, a bottle of wine and two glasses, and then shoves two lawn chairs together for us. When she returns and sits next down, ZEEK hands her a taste of wine and clinks her glass.

ZEEK:

Here’s to seeing clearly now.

MELODY RAE:

Here’s to serendipitous encounters,

magical timing and the pleasant aftertaste

of Chianti.

MELODY RAE:

Well said.

They gently kiss and ZEEK places his hand on top of hers and they sit back to watch the fireworks commence.

LATER THAT EVENING

Derek crashes in the guest bedroom while Mimi and

Giacomo sleep on the sectional sofa. The next morning MELODY RAE walks ZEEK out the front door, Mimi and Derek’s vehicles are gone. Before ZEEK leaves to walk to his house down the street he kisses her once more, playfully, and then fervidly with intensity.

ZEEK:

I’ll call you later.

MELODY RAE waves, sprints inside picks up phone.

MELODY RAE:

Kat, you need to sit. You will never

believe what happened to me last night.

(blabbering)

(VO)KAT

Slow down, Melody Rae. I’m comin’ over, I

need to hear about this in person!

SUPERIMPOSE:
TWO YEARS LATER

EXT. MCCLOUD, CALIFORNIA – SUMMER (2013) (SUNSET)

SUPERIMPOSE:
MCCLOUD CALIFORNIA

JULY 4, 2013

EXT. MELODY RAE’S CABIN – WEDDING RECEPTION

In the background, Eric Clapton’s “San Francisco Bay Blues” song plays over the loudspeakers.

DEREK:

ZDOG’s in the house!

ZEEK:

Our band wouldn’t be successful without

The support of my lovely, original, funny,

witty, gorgeous and supremely sexy wife,

Melody Rae, I owe my happiness and success

all to you, baby. Because of you, I can see

clearly now. Tu sei l'amore della mia vita;

mio tutto.

SUPERIMPOSE/SUBTITLED: Italian translation: you are the love of my life; my everything.

MELODY RAE blows ZEEK a kiss, which he catches on his cheek. Some applaud loudly, while others whistle at his public bravado of affection for her. She toasts her glass up in the air toward his and smiles.

FADE OUT:

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